"Isa lang ang masasabi ko, Bro. Ang tanga mo!" Muli na naman akong sinampal ni Tea ng katotohanan.
"Kakadeklara sa'yo na anak mo ang dala nung babae, tapos magpapakamatay sa harap mo nakatutok na sa ulo ang baril, anong gagawin mo? Hahayaan siya?" Mangha kong balik sa kanya.
Nagkibit-balikat ito at napaisip ng malalim. "May point nga din naman. But still, Ezia over Xy? Wrong move, Bro!"
"Wala nga kasi akong choice. Uupakan kita."
"Dapat sarili mo upakan mo."
"Hindi mo maiintindihan. At pagdating ng araw na naintindihan mo na ako, sana hindi naman ikaw ang nasa ganito kagulong mundo. Pero pag nag ka ganon man, ako naman ang magsasabi sa'yo ng tanga!"
Muli itong Nagkibit-balikat matapos ay ipinahinga ang ulo gamit ang dalawang daliring nakadaiti sa sentido. "Pero sa ngayon ako muna, so, sorry, bro. Well - After that? Anong nangyari?"
"A month or so after the marriage, Ezia had a miscarriage. And guess what?"
"What?"
"I discovered something that made me feel even more stupid than I am already was."
~~~~~~~~~~
Kakagaling ko lang sa labas ng hospital para bumili ng makakain. Nasa pintuan ako ng hospital room ni Ezia. She just had a miscarriage.
Nagtaka ako nang makita kong nakabukas ito ng bahagya. Hindi ko agad binuksan ito at nakiramdam ako - may kausap si Ezia.
Mas pinagbuti ko pa ang pakikinig.
"What are you doing here, Lionel? Baka maabutan ka ni Quei."
"Saglit lang ako. I had to see you. Kumusta ka na?" Sagot ni Lionel.
"Had to see me?! Itinakwil mo ko! Pinabayaan mo ako nang mabuntis mo ako uli! Gago ka!"
"Hindi pa ako handang maging tatay. You know me, Babe. I'm just up for the fun."
"Ganon pala edi wag mo akong kalikutin!" Mataas na ang tono ni Ezia
"Eh bakit ka ba nagpapakalikot kasi?!"
"Walang hiya ka! Umalis ka na! Darating na ang asawa ko."
Narinig ko ang isang mapangutyang tipid-tipiran ng tawa mula kay Lionel.
"Paano mo napapayag na pakasalan ka no'n? Kahit hindi niya anak inako niya." Tinatawanan niya ako.
"I told him it's his."
"You mean may nangyari sa inyo?"
"Wala."
"Paano mo napalabas na sa kanya ang bata?"
"I saw him - it was his birthday. That was the same day you dumped me, Asshole! Pagkakita ko sa kanya, nabuo agad ang plano ko. Pipikutin ko siya. Madali namang paikutin si Quei e. Bait-baitan lang ako sa kanya. Umepekto naman. Napatagal ang kwentuhan. May natira pang epektos sa akin mula kay Kubaka. Nilagay ko sa inumin niya. Na-high. Inantok. Pasok sa banga! Nagising siya magkatabi kami, naked. And there. Everything went as planned."
"You drugged him? Magaling ka talaga. Bakit hindi mo na lang pinalaglag uli gaya noong una?"
"Sabi doon sa gumawa dati hindi daw siya nag-lalaglag pag buwan na sa tiyan. Wala akong mahanap na iba noon. Desperada akong may maiharap na ama sa tatay kong heneral dahil lumalaki na ang tiyan ko. I saw Quei and there, he was perfect, he took the bait, I was saved from humiliation."
"And this? Anong drama to?" Tukoy ni Lionel sa kasalukuyang lagay ni Ezia
"I lured Quei for me to gain time to find another abortionist. I found one so here I am. Now, we can continue having fun."
Nagdidilim ang paningin ko sa naririnig. Anong klaseng katangahan ang meron ako?
Umalis ako noon at iniwan si Ezia. Hindi ko siya binalikan. Dumiretso ako sa bahay namin ni Tea. Doon na ako tumira at pinabayaan ko na si Ezia. Mukha namang mas ikinatuwa niya iyon. Walang komplikasyon.
Uuwi lang ako doon pag nakikiusap siya dahil dadalaw ang ama. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako pumapayag pa rin. Siguro ayoko na lang ng mas malaking gulo.
Nagkamali lang ako bakit ko pa sila pinasok noong gabing iyon sa kwarto ng condo namin. Kung hindi lang ako nangialam. Kung umalis na lang ako at hinayaan sila, hindi sana ganito.
~~~~~~~~~
"Bakit hindi mo binalikan si Xy?" Tanong ni Tea sa akin matapos kong magsalaysay.
"After I left her? Matapos kong piliin si Ezia over her?" Umiling-iling ako. "I don't deserve her. Wala na akong karapatan sa kanya. I broke her heart. Basura na lang ako."
"Promise, Bro, you're the moronest of all morons- if there be such term. Nonetheless, isa lang ang point ko talaga, tanga lang!"
"Ipukpok ko kaya itong bote ng brandy sa'yo at nang--" naputol ang sasabihin ko dahil tumatawag ang aking abogado.
Ring, ring, ring...
"Hello, Atty."
"Good evening, Quei. I just want to remind you about sa briefing bukas? Me, Judge Montesa and her students will be present. Sa bahay niyo na daw sabi ni Judge?"
"Yes, yes." Sagot ko.
"Okay, then. 5 pm."
"Okay. Thanks."
Iyon lang at naputol na ang tawag.
Si Tea? Hindi nagsawang laitin ang katangahan ko.
~~~~~~~~~
Kinabukasan, alas singko. Handa na ang opisina ko para sa briefing na sabi nila.
Pero ako, hindi pa. Hinahanda ko pa rin ang sarili ko para sa muli naming paghaharap ni Xy. Kailangan ko na namang ihanda ang sarili ko para pigilin ang sarili ko na ikulong siya sa mga bisig ko.
I was fixing my stuffs in the office when Xy knocked on my white and already wide opened door.
"Hi!" She cheerfully greeted me.
"Hey! You are early. How are you?" It was reflex maybe but I kissed her cheeks just how I usually do before.
I normally kissed her cheeks before I aim for her luscious lips.
Buti na lang nakapagpigil ako ng sagad. What had gotten into me? I actually forgot we were no longer an item. Dahil siguro sa dalas ng pababalik-tanaw ko sa mga pinagsamahan namin noon hindi ko na nagawang paghiwalayin ang nakaraan sa kasalukuyan.
So, there. I kissed her. Napatigil kami pareho. Our eyes met and our gazes just locked themselves together. No one moved. Our blinks are counted. Our breathing is the only noise which could be heard.
I didn't move. I didn't talk. She did the same.
Moments past, just like how it was, I wasn't able to control myself. I claimed her very much inviting lips and hungrily feasted on them.
I felt her arms wrapped around my neck. Likewise, she was responding to every single act of sexual starvation my body is reflecting.
I broke said kiss gasping air. I looked straight in her eyes - I saw no remorse. Before she could think, I once again held her nape and forcefully pulled it closer to mine.
She was returning all my ardent kisses. My every kiss, my every touch, she welcomed all of them. Her every response, her touch, her body's satiable reaction - all these showed her sweet capitulation.
I prolonged the kiss. I was like a prisoner who just got out after years of upheaval - hungry for food, famished for and by her.
Without breaking the blazing moment, I set the fiery furnace to a boiling temperature as I carried her like a doll. She instinctively wrapped her thighs to my waist. I rested her buttocks to my narra office table and there I continued with my celebratory banquet exclusive for two.
Her passionate kisses, her fervid skin, the sound of her conflagrant breathing - all these I missed, all these ignited my now heightened emotions.
As our kiss deepened, as our hugs tightened, as I pursue much more intimacy, there goes my goddamn brother destroying the ignition!
"Hey!!! Broth--" my brother entered my office without any hesitation but stopped in the middle of his sentence as he was stunned as we are.
Automatically, my and Xy's body separated - both panting and grasping for air.
"Oooops! Sorry." That was the immediate reaction Tea gave us when he realized what he's done. "Magsara kasi kayo ng pinto!" Iyon ang pahabol niya bago niya nagmamadaling isinara ang pinto ng opisina.
Pagkaalis ni Tea, tanging paghahabol ng hininga namin ni Xy ang maririnig.
Nakita ko sa mga mata niya ang pagdaan ng sari-saring emosyon, takot, gulat, pagtataka, at iba pa.
I cupped her beautiful face like how I do it when she was still mine to keep.
I leveled her eyes with mine. Pero iniwasan niya ang mga mata ko.
Kumalas siya at naglakad habang inaayos ang sarili. Halata sa kilos niya na naguguluhan siya.
Palakad lakad siya sa opisina ko.
"What was that a--" hindi niya naituloy ang sasabihin niya dahil bumukas ang pinto ng opisina.
"Hi. Good evening." Bungad ng aking abogadong si David.
Nawala ang sana'y sasabihin ni Xy dahil doon. Maya-maya ay nag-umpisa na kami. Nakapaikot kami sa sofa. Nasa gitna ako ng lahat at inaantay nilang magsalaysay.
I was observing Xy. I admired her equanimity. Despite the confusing moment, she's now facing me with utmost professionalism.
My admiration for her would have been increased by that. But I couldn't. How could I? I had already the highest regards for her since time immemorial.
To be at her footing, I set all personal desires aside first and dealt with my mess.
I started recalling what I saw that fateful night...
~~~~~~~~~~~
Naiwan ko ang ilang mga importanteng dokumento ko doon nang huling pakiusap ni Ezia na umuwi ako para pakiharapan ang kanyang ama.
I was on my way out when I heard weird noises mixing with a loud music playing inside "our" conjugal bed room.
As curiosity took over my system, I headed to said room, and opened it.
I saw scattered foils with white sugar-like debris on the floor carpet of the room. I ignored. I then proceeded inside and saw Lionel and Ezia doing their "deed".
Patalikod na sana ako noon at babalewalain sila nang bigla na lamang pinagsasaksak ni Lionel si Ezia.
Wala akong pakialam kay Ezia pero bilang isang tao, normal na sasaklolo ka kapag ganoon na ang nakita mo hindi ba?
And so, that's what I did. Sinaklolohan ko si Ezia. I snatched the knife from Lionel. Threw it at one corner of the room and held the bloodied body of Ezia.
"I tried to revive her, called her name, I went on top of her to see her face tilted at the other end because I was hoping she was still breathing - that's when I heard a sound and saw a flash - Lionel took a photo of me. The next thing I know, I was already being prosecuted for the death of my 'wife' ". Doon ko tinapos ang salaysay ko. Matamang nakikinig ang lahat sa akin.
"What do you say?" Tanong ni Xy kay David.
"Well, it's very clear. Quei was just framed. But, of course, the judge doesn't know that. So, we still have to build a strong defense." Sagot ni David.
Tumango-tango si Xy. Matapos ay binalingan ang tatlo nitong estudyante.
"What about you three?"
"I have the same thoughts with, David, Ma'am, but my thoughts are really on as to how could we prove that it was just frame-up?" Nagsalita ang lalake na ipinakilala na August, kapatid ni Atty. David.
"If we would just rely on Sir Quei's testimony, his testimony would be self-serving, it will prove nothing." Segunda ni Ms. Chrystalle. She was familiar to me. Teamo fancied her bewitching aura months after her win as Miss Universe.
"No matter how truthful Sir Quei's statements are, it doesn't really stand a chance over the positive identification by Lionel of him as the killer. Idagdag mo pa, may picture silang pinanghahawakan." Kampi ng babaeng ipinakilala nila bilang Bethany. Maganda rin ito. Latina ang dating.
"You have exactly 27 days before pre-trial. But you have almost 4-5 months to prepare for your defense. Dahil maraming oras, sasarilinin ko muna ang nasa isip ko. I am a teacher. You are all my students, yes, that includes you, David. Isipin niyong mabuti. More than alibi, more than denial, more than frame-up. Think outside the box." Napaka-intelehenteng pahayag ni Xy.
Noong mga panahong kami pa, I was not given the opportunity to see this side of her. She's very serious, attentive, calm and dangerous. I don't know if it's even proper to attach calm with dangerous, it sounds deadly to me, but yeah, that is just her.
Nag-discuss pa sila ng mga bagay na sila lang ang nakakaintindi. At dahil wala akong maintindihan, inubos ko na lang ang oras kong minamasdan siya.
Ilang oras pa, nagpaalaman na. Naunang umalis ang apat. Naiwan lang si Xy dahil nakigamit pa muna siya nang C.R.
Pagbalik niya, nakita ko ang mabilisang pagkalat ng kapulahan sa kanyang mukha. Nagsimula na rin siyang magpanic.
This side of her, ito yong dahilan kung bakit hindi ko siya mabitawan. Kung bakit kahit hindi na siya sa akin, gusto ko pa ring isiping akin siya.
Nakayuko lang siya. Tinungo niya ang kanyang inuupuan kanina para kunin ang bag niya tsaka walang lingong tinungo ang pinto palabas ng aking opisina habang nagpapaalam.
Bago pa siya tuluyang makalabas ay nahagip ko ang kanyang mga braso. Sa isang iglap ay naisandal ko siya sa dingding at kinulong sa aking mga bisig.
Nakapaskil sa kanyang mukha ang gulat.
Tinitigan ko siya - iyong nanunuot, iyong pinapasok pati kaluluwa.
Maya-maya ay hindi siya nakapagpigil.
"Ano bang ginagawa mo, Quei? Let me go."
"No, we will talk."
"Ganito tayo mag-uusap?" Sarkastiko niyang tanong.
"Uh-huh. Wala namang masama." Nakangisi ako habang inilapit ko lalo ang aking mukha sa kanya.
Tinitigan niya ako ng masama. Hindi ako nagpatinag at nakipagtagisan ng tingin.
As always, I am just amused by her every act.
"Now, let's talk..." I said retaining the intimacy of that awkward position.
"Or not." I continued without giving jer a chance to budge in.
~~~~~~~~~
Good night! :)))